Make a Lasting Impression on a Child’s Life

Earn your Early Childhood Education Degree or Certificate

No matter where you are in your career, our early childhood education program can help you prepare for the position that’s right for you so you can really make a difference in a child’s life.

Our School of Education Early Childhood Education (ECE) program is designed to help you start or advance a rewarding career dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of young children and their families.

There are opportunities stemming from all levels of education. Whether you’re pursuing a Certificate, Associate’s, or Bachelor’s degree, our online Early Childhood Education program can help you find the path that will prepare you to succeed as an education professional.

Learning Options

Gain In-Field Early Childhood Education Skills Employers Seek

Through a career-focused curriculum, along with an internship option, you’ll prepare for success applying the insight learned in your studies to your field. Our program is designed to help you gain relevant skills employers seek, including:

Developmentally Appropriate Practices

Understand how to work with children by using methods, materials and interactions that promote healthy childhood development.

Specializations

Choose from two specializations at the Associate’s level (Special Needs, or Child Development) and from an optional Child Development specialization at the Bachelor’s level.

Real World Experience

Internships provide 540 hours of applied learning experience in an early-childhood setting, helping you gain confidence working with young children and families.

Child, Parent, and Family Support:

Develop skills that will allow you to advocate for children and their families. Learn how to partner with parents and provide support through problem solving and understanding resources for families.

An Immersive Approach to Online Education

Our curriculum is based on the national best standards established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)*. Throughout your curriculum, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills you need to succeed as an educator—one who can positively influence children’s lives by promoting the healthy development of their physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and language development.

Partnership with CDA and Council for Professional Recognition

Rasmussen is a proud partner of the CDA and Council for Professional Recognition. Our curriculum includes a focus on preparing students to apply for their CDA credential from the Council for Professional Recognition.

*The Early Childhood Education programs at Rasmussen College are not accredited by the NAEYC Commission on Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation. Rasmussen College is not a partner of NAEYC and our programs are not sponsored or endorsed by NAEYC.
This program has not been approved by any state professional licensing body, and this program is not intended to lead to any state issued professional license. For further information on professional licensing requirements, please contact the appropriate board or agency in your state of residence.

Our Grads Achieve Career Success

Graduates from our School of Education programs are working for leading employers, including:*

YMCA

Head Start

KinderCare Learning Center

Crème de la Crème

Montessori Schools

Minnesota Reading Corps

New Horizon Academy

Lee County School District

Bright Horizons

116 Years of Successful Graduates

At Rasmussen College, we’ve been dedicated to our mission of preparing students for career success since 1900.

*Employer information reported by Rasmussen College graduates. This list does not constitute an endorsement of Rasmussen College by the organizations shown above. Listing does not guarantee or imply that future employment opportunities at these organizations will be available.

Program Entry Requirements

A criminal background check is required prior to enrolling in any ECE program. To learn more about entrance requirements and begin planning your ECE career, call 888-549-6755 or contact us to speak with a program manager.*

*Enrolling students also need to pass the Rasmussen College entrance placement exam(s) along with other program-specific requirements.

RN to BSN Expected Program Outcomes*

As contributors to a global community, 90% of the Program graduates will remain employed as a Registered Nurse or advance their career within the Scope of the BSN Generalist Role, as measured within one year of graduation.

In support of lifelong learning, the Program graduates will be prepared to further their education in the fields of Nursing or Health Care.

In support of service to students, 85% of the Program graduates will indicate that the Program fulfilled their expectations and that they would recommend the Program to others.

Of the responding employers, 70% will indicate satisfaction with the Program graduates' preparedness and knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to serve diverse communities, as measured within one year of graduation.

Consistent with the goals of an institution of higher learning, 70% of students who enroll in the Program will successfully complete the Program on an average time to completion of eight academic quarters.

The Program will employ appropriately credentialed and experienced faculty who demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning through ongoing professional development and educational opportunities.

*CCNE defines Program Outcomes as "Statements of levels of achievement, which encompass student achievement, faculty achievement, and other program-selected indicators of achievement. Program outcomes may be expressed in the form of overall program goals, end-of program outcomes, curricular outcomes, and/or faculty outcomes."

Do you have more questions?

How Much Could You Earn as an Early Childhood Education Professional?

In-Demand Career Options for Your Future

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), earning a degree, regardless of the field of study, can improve income potential.* Here is the average salary by percentile and projected job growth for education professionals:

Job Title(s)

10th Percentile

25th Percentile

50th Percentile

Job Growth (By Year 2024)

Childcare Workers

$16,900

$18,290

$20,320

5%

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

$19,130

$22,440

$28,570

7%

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, [salary data accessed August 9, 2016] www.bls.gov/oes/. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed February 25, 2016] www.bls.gov/ooh/. BLS salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.

* This program has not been approved by any state professional licensing body, and this program is not intended to lead to any state-issued professional license. For further information on professional licensing requirements, please contact the appropriate board or agency in your state of residence.

The BLS states the median yearly salary for a Childcare Workers is $27,130. If you invested $27,209 in your Early Childhood EducationAssociates's degree and started a career as a Childcare Workers , your estimated return on investment would be $786,691 throughout your career.*

Program Page Methodology and Disclosures

Time to Complete

Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and the number of courses completed each term.

Industry Certification Exams

Rasmussen College will reimburse the application fee for each first attempt of all of the industry certification exams for which you qualify to take. Should you need to take an exam more than once to receive a passing score, you will be responsible for all subsequent exam application fees.

Average Salary

Salary data includes earnings of July 2014 – June 2015 Rasmussen College graduates who reported salary information, reviewed 12 months after graduation. This data does not specify that each graduate was placed by Rasmussen College in their current position; some graduates find jobs on their own while others maintain previously held employment.

Receive Personalized Information Today
Learn More About Our Admissions Process
Learn More About our Financial Aid Process
Learn More About Your Program of Interest
Learn More About Rasmussen College

Personalized financial aid

Customized support services

Detailed program plan

Attend a no-obiligation Nursing Information Session

Meet the Dean of Nursing

Enrollment application

Personalized financial aid

Career path guidance

Ask us a question about the admissions process:

Ask us a question about the financial aid process:

Ask us a question about your program of interest:

Ask us a question about Rasmussen College:

Characters remaining:
150

We'd love to help you through the admissions process. Fill out the form and we will be in touch shortly to get your questions answered so you can better understand how Rasmussen College can help you achieve your goals. There is no obligation to enroll.

We'd love to help you through the financial aid process. Fill out the form and we will be in touch shortly to get your questions answered so you can better understand how Rasmussen College can help you achieve your goals. There is no obligation to enroll.

We'd love to help you learn more about your program of interest. Fill out the form and we will be in touch shortly to get your questions answered so you can better understand how Rasmussen College can help you achieve your goals. There is no obligation to enroll.

We'd love to help answer any question you may have. Fill out the form and we will be in touch shortly so you can better understand how Rasmussen College can help you achieve your goals. There is no obligation to enroll.

What would you like to study?

I'm interested in...

Preferred Program

Preferred Campus

How may we contact you?

Please complete all fields

By requesting information, I authorize Rasmussen College to contact me by email, phone or text message at the number provided.